TY - JOUR T1 - What Role Does Rheumatoid Arthritis Disease Activity Have in Cardiovascular Risk? JO - Reumatología Clínica (English Edition) T2 - AU - Ramírez Huaranga,Marco Aurelio AU - Mínguez Sánchez,María Dolores AU - Zarca Díaz de la Espina,Miguel Ángel AU - Espinosa Prados,Pedro José AU - Romero Aguilera,Guillermo SN - 21735743 M3 - 10.1016/j.reumae.2017.03.008 DO - 10.1016/j.reumae.2017.03.008 UR - https://reumatologiaclinica.org/en-what-role-does-rheumatoid-arthritis-articulo-S2173574318300856 AB - Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with a 1.3–3-fold increase in mortality, being the major cause of death from cardiovascular complications (40%–50%). Therefore, the initial approach should include cardiovascular risk (CVR) assessment using algorithms adapted for this population. Although, SCOREM is an important advance, there are data indicating that subclinical atherosclerosis may be underdiagnosed. ObjectiveTo estimate the strength of association between carotid ultrasound and SCOREM in this population, as well as the implication of disease activity. MethodologyCross-sectional, observational, analytical study performed at the General Hospital of Ciudad Real, Spain, between June 2013 and May 2014. The evaluation of CVR was performed and, according to SCOREM, the population was divided into low and high (medium, high and very high) risk. We studied the presence of subclinical atherosclerosis in low-risk patients. ResultsOf the total of 119 RA patients, 73.1% had traditional risk factors. Thirty-eight patients were excluded because of a previous cardiovascular event, diabetes mellitus and/or nephropathy. Atheromatous plaque was observed in 14.63% of the low-risk population. The factor with the strongest association to the presence of subclinical atherosclerosis was a moderate or high activity of RA measured by the simplified disease activity index with an odds ratio of 4.95 (95% CI: 1.53–16.01). ConclusionsAlthough there was an acceptable correlation between the presence of subclinical atherosclerosis and SCOREM, there was a considerable proportion of atheromatous plaques in low-risk patients. Disease activity was the risk factor most closely associated with increased CVR. ER -